BREAKING: INEC Makes Fresh Announcement, Releases New Deadline for PVC Collection
- The deadline for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards has been extended by the independent National Electoral Commission
- The electoral body announced that PVCs can now be collected until February 5, across all states of the country
- According to INEC, the is the second and the last time the commission will be extending the collection of PVCs ahead of the 2023 general elections
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the collection of the Permanent Voters' Cards by Nigerians.
A statement released by INEC on Saturday, January 28, said that the collection of PVCs across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory will be extended to February 5.
Source: Original
Signed by Festus Okoye, the national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee for INEC and seen by Legit.ng said the commission met on Saturday, January 28, after its meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) across the nation.
Okoye said after its deliberation on a number of issues, including the reports from RECs on the ongoing collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) in its 774 Local Government Offices nationwide, it decided to extend the deadline.
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He said:
"It will be recalled that at the meeting with RECs on Friday, 27th January 2023, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu indicated that the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election.
Having reviewed reports from all the States of the Federation, the Commission is encouraged by the progress made so far as more Nigerians troop out daily to collect their PVCs.
Arising from reports from the various States and discussions with Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Commission has decided to further extend PVC collection in all its Local Government Offices nationwide by an additional one week.
The ongoing collection of PVCs nationwide will therefore continue and end on 5th February 2023."
Noting that this is the second time the INEC is extending PVC collection nationwide, Okoye said this particular extension of the deadline will also be the last of the exercise.
He added:
"The collection period has further been extended by an additional two hours and will start at 9 am and end at 5 pm daily including Saturdays and Sundays.
"It will be recalled that at the meeting with REC on Friday, 27th January 2023, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Indicated that the Commission will not hesitate to consider additional measures to ensure that all citizens have ample opportunity to collect their PVCs ahead of the General Election."
According to INEC, those who engaged in double and multiple registrations should not bother visiting any of the commission's offices as the electoral body did not print their PVCs.
He assured that the commission will continue to act on all reported cases of sharp practices during the ongoing PVC collection and will ensure that no Nigerian is disadvantaged.
Okoye noted that all those who carried out valid registration have an opportunity of collecting their PVCs as the commission salutes Nigerians for their patience and doggedness throughout the exercise.
2023: More pressure on Mahmood Yakubu As CSOs urge INEC to fulfil obligations over PVC collection
Ahead of next month's general elections, there is a growing call for INEC to extend its deadline for the collection of PVCs.
A coalition of civil society organisations in Abuja called on INEC to honour its statutory obligations and avoid disenfranchising millions of Nigerians.
The coalition also made a case for students in tertiary institutions who registered for their PVC during the eight-month ASUU strike.
2023: Yiaga Africa, other CSOs release election manipulation risk index, list 22 affected states
The build-up to the 2023 general elections slated for Saturday, February 25 has been greeted with a fresh twist.
A pre-electoral observation released by Yiaga Africa and other civil society groups revealed that some states are at risk of electoral manipulation.
Now fewer than 22 out of the 36 states of the federation were listed among those at high risk of electoral fraud and other related electoral ills.
Source: Legit.ng
